Fill monitor with no pan and full view

bgoracy · 01-29-2024, 06:00 PM

Hello All,

I am attempting to set up a full virtual aquarium by putting my pc monitor inside an empty aquarium against the front glass that is on an aquarium stand. I want it to look as much like an actual aquarium as possible. I have a 29" monitor LG 29WN600-W which is widescreen using 2560x1080 native resolution. I would like to know how to show the full screensaver view end to end and have that fill the entire monitor screen. (meaning it couldn't pan as the whole view would be there.) I can do it using windowed mode but can only fill a little over half the vertical size of the monitor. When I drag it to fill the whole screen, I lose the left and right sides and it starts panning again. I have tried many different resolutions in both the monitor and screen saver settings, but I can't seem to achieve what I am looking for. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

drfish · 01-31-2024, 02:55 AM

Hello!

I've done what you are trying to do on a small scale. (https://hothardware.com/reviews/rock...uarium-project)

I'm afraid that what you're going to want is a different monitor. 32:9 is a thing that is out there and should be a perfect fit, better than my 4:1 effort. However, you will need to go bigger. The normal size is 49" but those screens are generally curved. There are some other options though, like these:

https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-PA147CDV...E6N4STL7G&th=1
https://www.amazon.com/INNOCN-Ultraw...9WR3SKR4/?th=1

Please share pictures of your project.

bgoracy · 01-31-2024, 06:57 AM

Hello, thanks for responding! I actually got this idea from seeing your project in google search. It's unfortunate that it will only work in 32:9

I guess I am going to have to pan all the way left or right and leave it like that. I will post pics when I am done. (It may be a while) I am surprised there is no market for anything like this out there. I have had an actual reef tank and it is a real PITA. Something like this gives you all the benefits and none of the work

bgoracy · 01-31-2024, 07:04 AM

want it to look something like this...

Ralph · 01-31-2024, 07:58 AM

Perhaps.. it would be easier to change the size of the aquarium. Given it does not need to be water tight a local glass shop and a couple of tubes of clear Silicone and you have the perfect fit to your monitor, including the depth

drfish · 01-31-2024, 08:15 AM

Haha, nice. That makes two people that have found there way here from that project.

You could do it as a dual-monitor setup. It would not be ideal to have the bezels in the middle of course, but you could hide them by splitting the "tank" vertically with a piece of trim that matches the stand.

I did look for cheaper options for the 14" 1920x550 monitor and you can get just the panel and controller for about $100 if you are willing to wait for it to ship from China. Probably still not the size you are looking for, but a nice upgrade from mine for anyone that thinks it is too small.

bgoracy · 01-31-2024, 03:28 PM

Any chance of using usbmmidd on the single monitor to accomplish the same thing as dual monitors?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybHKFZjSkVY

drfish · 02-03-2024, 02:36 AM

I haven't been successful in the past when it comes to virtual resolutions. But I can't say I have tried that tool specifically.

bgoracy · 02-04-2024, 04:18 PM

Finished!

bgoracy · 02-04-2024, 04:20 PM

It's not perfect but I didn't have to buy anything new, I just used what I had already.

bgoracy · 02-04-2024, 04:36 PM

For scale.

Ralph · 02-05-2024, 08:03 AM

Nice job, but you have to synchronize those clocks, one seems to be running 5 min slow.

bgoracy · 02-05-2024, 09:14 AM

Hahaha - already done, out of sync clocks drive me crazy.

bgoracy · 02-05-2024, 01:38 PM

Couple of videos...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzyvsQy1SZc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlZMufEppb0

drfish · 02-05-2024, 08:35 PM

Hey, that turned out great! I like that you have it running dream aquarium too, that's an option my setup doesn't have, the screen is too wide and the hardware it too weak. Nice touch blacking out the sides of the tank too, very pro looking.

bgoracy · 02-05-2024, 08:58 PM

Thanks!

Jim Sachs · 02-10-2024, 05:25 PM

Looks terrific!

bgoracy · 02-14-2024, 02:58 PM

Thanks!

bgoracy · 02-22-2024, 10:38 PM

Fixed the sides and top.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eh_qT4wT_n8

Ralph · 02-23-2024, 08:09 AM

Tank part looks good, now if you had the right screen saver software running....

01-29-2024, 06:00 PM	#1
bgoracy Registered Join Date: Jan 2024 Posts: 17	Fill monitor with no pan and full view Hello All, I am attempting to set up a full virtual aquarium by putting my pc monitor inside an empty aquarium against the front glass that is on an aquarium stand. I want it to look as much like an actual aquarium as possible. I have a 29" monitor LG 29WN600-W which is widescreen using 2560x1080 native resolution. I would like to know how to show the full screensaver view end to end and have that fill the entire monitor screen. (meaning it couldn't pan as the whole view would be there.) I can do it using windowed mode but can only fill a little over half the vertical size of the monitor. When I drag it to fill the whole screen, I lose the left and right sides and it starts panning again. I have tried many different resolutions in both the monitor and screen saver settings, but I can't seem to achieve what I am looking for. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

01-31-2024, 02:55 AM	#2
drfish the Doc Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Zeeland, MI Posts: 5,357	Hello! I've done what you are trying to do on a small scale. (https://hothardware.com/reviews/rock...uarium-project) I'm afraid that what you're going to want is a different monitor. 32:9 is a thing that is out there and should be a perfect fit, better than my 4:1 effort. However, you will need to go bigger. The normal size is 49" but those screens are generally curved. There are some other options though, like these: https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-PA147CDV...E6N4STL7G&th=1 https://www.amazon.com/INNOCN-Ultraw...9WR3SKR4/?th=1 Please share pictures of your project. I don't watch commercials.

01-31-2024, 07:58 AM	#5
Ralph Retired Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Edmonton Alberta Ca Posts: 2,443	Perhaps.. it would be easier to change the size of the aquarium. Given it does not need to be water tight a local glass shop and a couple of tubes of clear Silicone and you have the perfect fit to your monitor, including the depth Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889 – 1951) The limits of my language are the limits of my mind. All I know is what I have words for.

01-31-2024, 08:15 AM	#6
drfish the Doc Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Zeeland, MI Posts: 5,357	Haha, nice. That makes two people that have found there way here from that project. You could do it as a dual-monitor setup. It would not be ideal to have the bezels in the middle of course, but you could hide them by splitting the "tank" vertically with a piece of trim that matches the stand. I did look for cheaper options for the 14" 1920x550 monitor and you can get just the panel and controller for about $100 if you are willing to wait for it to ship from China. Probably still not the size you are looking for, but a nice upgrade from mine for anyone that thinks it is too small. I don't watch commercials.

02-03-2024, 02:36 AM	#8
drfish the Doc Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Zeeland, MI Posts: 5,357	I haven't been successful in the past when it comes to virtual resolutions. But I can't say I have tried that tool specifically. I don't watch commercials.

01-31-2024, 06:57 AM	#3
bgoracy Registered Join Date: Jan 2024 Posts: 17	Hello, thanks for responding! I actually got this idea from seeing your project in google search. It's unfortunate that it will only work in 32:9 I guess I am going to have to pan all the way left or right and leave it like that. I will post pics when I am done. (It may be a while) I am surprised there is no market for anything like this out there. I have had an actual reef tank and it is a real PITA. Something like this gives you all the benefits and none of the work

01-31-2024, 03:28 PM	#7
bgoracy Registered Join Date: Jan 2024 Posts: 17	Any chance of using usbmmidd on the single monitor to accomplish the same thing as dual monitors? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybHKFZjSkVY

02-04-2024, 04:20 PM	#10
bgoracy Registered Join Date: Jan 2024 Posts: 17	It's not perfect but I didn't have to buy anything new, I just used what I had already.

02-05-2024, 08:03 AM	#12
Ralph Retired Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Edmonton Alberta Ca Posts: 2,443	Nice job, but you have to synchronize those clocks, one seems to be running 5 min slow. Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889 – 1951) The limits of my language are the limits of my mind. All I know is what I have words for.

02-05-2024, 09:14 AM	#13
bgoracy Registered Join Date: Jan 2024 Posts: 17	Hahaha - already done, out of sync clocks drive me crazy.

02-05-2024, 01:38 PM	#14
bgoracy Registered Join Date: Jan 2024 Posts: 17	Couple of videos... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzyvsQy1SZc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlZMufEppb0 Last edited by bgoracy; 02-05-2024 at 03:00 PM.

02-05-2024, 08:35 PM	#15
drfish the Doc Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Zeeland, MI Posts: 5,357	Hey, that turned out great! I like that you have it running dream aquarium too, that's an option my setup doesn't have, the screen is too wide and the hardware it too weak. Nice touch blacking out the sides of the tank too, very pro looking. I don't watch commercials.

02-05-2024, 08:58 PM	#16
bgoracy Registered Join Date: Jan 2024 Posts: 17	Thanks!

02-10-2024, 05:25 PM	#17
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,791	Looks terrific! Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

02-14-2024, 02:58 PM	#18
bgoracy Registered Join Date: Jan 2024 Posts: 17	Thanks!

02-23-2024, 08:09 AM	#20
Ralph Retired Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Edmonton Alberta Ca Posts: 2,443	Tank part looks good, now if you had the right screen saver software running.... Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889 – 1951) The limits of my language are the limits of my mind. All I know is what I have words for.